Sea & Sea DX-8000G or Reefmaster DC500??

[oceanic-daz]

Hi guys & girls
I'm getting a new set-up for my forthcoming trip to Kungkungan Bay and would like some input from users of either of the above cameras.
Any advice will be appreciated.

[Cecil]

Neither is the best choice, both are over priced sub-standard cameras. For half the money you can get a great Canon or Fuji camera and UW case that will take much better pictures and have much more control and expandablity. For a little more get an Olympus still less than those and a much better system.

[oceanic-daz]

Hi Cecil
So tell me what is your set-up at present?

[Cecil]

I'm using a 4 year old Sony that I would not recommend to a newbie. The Sonys do not have good manual controls and shift colors green UW. My prejudice against Sealifes and Sea & Sea came from my previous UW camera that I paid a lot of money for and never once got a good picture. The newer cameras are better but still inferior to a regular digital camera that has an UW case and they are way more money.

I have seen some pretty decent pictures with the DC500 and DC300 with all the accessories but I have seen better pictures with just a Canon A95 and internal flash. I'm surprised that someone with one of these has not spoken up yet (but they will). They will talk about shutter lag and ease of use (no controls is easy). Shutter lage is a pain but easy to fix, press the button half way, then frame, then shoot.

The better cameras do have a lot of controls, but you do not have to use them. I recently brought a Fuji for my son, pulled it out of the box and put in some batteries and pointed it at my dog. It took good pictures without ever touching a control. That's the point a good camera will take good pictures in automatic but if you need the extra controls they are available (and you will need them UW).

The other point I make is, a good camera will take great pictures UW without an external strobe. If you look through my web pages and galleries, all of these shots are with an internal strobe.

YMMV

[bperrybap]

Ok, So I've got a DC500. I'm not sure I believe that comment
about getting a Cannon or Fuji for half the money.
I could be wrong but I didn't see anything similar with a housing
for around $250.
The DC500 is $500 at ScubaToys.

I bought it because I liked the features and I haven't seen
any other cameras that offered 5mp, Movie with Sound cability,
in a very small package and included an underwater housing
for that price range. I needed a new digital camera
and I wanted a small camera for land that I could also
use for diving. High on my list was compact size, because I've
found that having a small "point/shoot" camera means you are
more likely to tote it around and use it to get pictures vs leaving
it at home and not getting any pictures.


I have taken pictures on land, and on a lake dive so far.
Both looked as good as the view I saw with my eyes
including the lake dive pictures which had 6-10 ft visibility.
I had no external flash and didn't use the internal flash
and didn't monkey with any of the settings.
Is it as good or better than others out there? I have no idea
of knowing since this is the only underwater camera I've
ever used.

Good stuff:
------------
- The camera itself (when not in the housing) is the size of
a deck of playing cards.
- 3x Optical Zoom
- Large LCD vew screen.
- Macro/Wide Angle lenses are available (extra cost).
- Very slightly negative bouyant (sinks) in freshwater.
(Supposedly slightly positive in salt water)
- Mpeg Video with sound: Can fit 1 Hour on large MMC card.
- Uses SD/MMC cards up to 1GB.
- There are some special modes for underwater pictures
(Shark mode, which locks the focus and allows rapid picture
taking).
- Preview/delete mode, allows deleting the last picture using
only the shutter button.
- Quite a bit of user programmibilty and modes
- User updatedable firmware - If new features become available
from SeaLife, you can download the new firmware and update it.
- Comes with everything you need: (except MMC card)
Battery, USB charger/docking station, cables, s/w, cleaning kit.
- Large easy to press shutter and power buttons on housing.
- timeout/powerdown modes.


Bad/Not So Good Stuff:
--------------------------
- Mode buttons on back of camera are quite small and are a little
difficult to press. I've gotten use to it but if you have large
fingers it might be tough.

- Buttons on back of housing are REALLY small round 3/16 inch
in size! They are VERY crowded, and you won't be able to
switch modes with gloves on. It is kind of tought even with
bare hands.
(shutter and power buttons are no problem)

- Without using the preview mode, it can be difficult to
tell if you are actually taking pictures.

- Custom battery and spares are not yet available.
NOTE: I prefer AA or AAA as if you have a battery failure
or have one go dead, you can easily find cheap spares.
(I'm convinced it is a cell phone battery and I just need to
take it in to cell shop to see which one.)
SeaLife told me that spare batteries will be available "Soon".

- Only way to charge the battery is by using the camera placed
into the docking station. ( you can't have spare batteries
charging while you are out using the camera).

--------------------------------
Overall, I like the camera and have no regrets in buying it.
In my case most of its use will be on land and I really like the
compact size of the camera.
Now that I've gotten used to it, I think I'll also have alot of fun
with it underwater.

One thing you may want to consider is looking at the DC300
Right now, you can find those NEW for under $250.
It looks very similar in features and the buttons on the back
don't look as crowded. It also uses standard AA batteries.

It all depends on what you want. I do think that whatever
you do, you should buy it locally if you can so that you can
actually see it and hold it your hands to see if it is comfortable
and works the way you think it does.

--- bill

[*Floater*]

Sealife cameras are not meant for serious photographers, but rather for underwater tourists. I'm happy with my DC310 (w/ strobes and macro lenses), and I think it was decent value for my money. All the pics in my gallery were taken with it.

I'm still unclear about whether the DC500 is compatible with the macro lenses, so I'm staying away from it for now. If it is, then I'll consider upgrading at some point in time.

The more experienced photographers here generally say that you can find better value for your money out there than the Sealifes (though the jury is still out on DC500), and since they are more experienced, you should probably listen to them. All I'm saying is that DC310 is still a decent camera and not a ripoff.

[Cecil]

A couple of points for consideration. If we compare the DC500 to a Canon A95. Here are the specs for the two cameras.

DPreview on Canon A95

Sealife DC500

There is not a lot of detail on the Sealife page. I really wanted to find out what type of camera is in the housing. This is another point, when you Sealife floods where do you find a replacement. Remeber there are two type of UW cameras, those that have flooded and those that will.

On the price side, the DC500 can be had for $500. The Canon A95 can be had for $270 and the Canon WP-DC50 UW housing can be had for $170. By the way the DX-8000G is over a grand, that is what I was saying about half the cost.

[jpomerantz]

I have the 8000 and love it. Had used the 3000 on last dive in CZM in March and will be back with the 8000 in a few weeks. One big advantage is the lack of shutter lag. I am not sure the Canon can go for that. As far as the camera itself I went with it because I intended not to use it as a land based camera unless I need to. I use a Canon Digital Rebel above the water - housing et al was too much. I also like the 8mp the 8000 has. The housing is solid and unlike the others that go for land cameras doesn't have as many leakage issues. That being said the Canon housings aren't that bad compared to the Oly ones. I guess it really comes down to what you want to use it for. My $0.02.

[scubatoys]

I'm still unclear about whether the DC500 is compatible with the macro lenses, so I'm staying away from it for now. If it is, then I'll consider upgrading at some point in time.

No need... the DC500 camera will macro down to about 2 inches without any external lenses. The thing that sets this camera apart from the earlier ones, is it is a auto focus and zoom camera, while the others where a fixed focus lens... thus the need for the macro.

But you can use the same wide angle lens, and either of their strobes.

[DesertEagle]

Who makes the camera that goes into the DC500?